Collapsible carrier for books



March 9, 1965 K. K. c. LU

COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER FOR B00 heats-She Filed May '7, 1962 INVENTOR. KENNETH K. 0- LU BY 164.14. wM,

HIS ATTORNEYS March 1965 K. K. c. LU 3,172,586

COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER FOR BOOKS Filed May 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR. KENNETH K. 0. LU

BYE Z HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,172,586 CGLLAPSELE mama FOR BGSKS Kenneth K. C. Lu, 134 York Drive, Piedmont 11, Calif. Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,655 1 Claim. (Cl. 224-55) My invention relates to a collapsible carrier for books, packages or the like, and particularly refers to a carrier having a plurality of flexible flat straps which may be selectively disposed at right angles to encircle the books to be carried, or to lie parallel so that they may be folded neatly into a small bundle which may be placed in a purse or pocket when not in use.

Heretofore, carriers for books and the like having straps which are adapted to surround the bundle in two directions, viz., longitudinally and also transversely, have been awkward to carry when not in use, due primarily to the kinking, looping and bending required for the flexible straps when they are folded or rolled into small compass.

This invention is directed primarily to an improved arrangement of the connections between the base or body of the carrier, to which the handle is secured, and the several pairs of flat, flexible straps, so that the latter, when not in use, will lie parallel and so can be neatly wrapped or folded around the base and handle.

Among the objects of the invention are:

(1) To provide a simple and economical construction for an adjustable carrier of this nature;

(2) To provide a strong and simple arrangement that will carry heavy bundles of books or the like; and

(3) To provide a carrier that will not be bulky in use or when being transported in a purse or pocket.

These and other objects and advantages will be further apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Ln the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier with its several pairs of straps assembled around a bundle of books;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of base plate for the arrangement of FIG. 1 and before the several pairs of straps and the handle have been secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the baseplate of FIG. 2 with the handle and straps extended for use;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view partly broken away of the arrangement of FIG. 3, with the side straps retracted and turned over to lie parallel to the handle, to the end straps, and to the longitudinal axis of the base; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of the arrangement of FIG. 4, showing the compact nature of the base, straps, and handle in folded position.

' Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, I provide an elongated, generally rectangular base plate 1 of light metal or plastic, having a longitudinal axis AA (FIG. 2). Each end of the base plate is formed with transverse slots or perforations 3, through each of which one end of a flexible end strap 5 and '7 is looped and secured as by staples 9. Spaced inwardly along axis AA, I provide a second set of transverse slots or perforations ll-11, through which an endless flexible handle is passed and which desirably consists of fabrics loops 15 and 17, connected by wire loops 19. The outer or free end of end strap 5 is provided with a metal hook 21 and an adjusting linkage 23. The corresponding free end of a strap 27 has a metal loop 25 into which hook 21 may be engaged, as shown in FIG. 1.

At each side of the longitudinal axis A-A of base 1 are pairs of perforations 27, 29 and 31, 33, all inclined at an angle of 45 with respect to the axis A-A. These 3,172,586 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 may converge either inwardly or outwardly with respect to that axis and either end of the base 1, for reasons which will be further apparent below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the ends of a first pair of straps 35, 37 are looped through slots or perforations 27 and 29, respectively, and are stapled as at 39 to project at right angles to axis A--A. In this preferred embodiment, the ends of a second pair of straps 41, 43 are similarly secured into perforations 31 and 33. Straps 35, 37 and 41, 43 by virtue of the 45 angularity of the perforations 27, 29 and 31, 33 and their angular connection thereto, may thus be extended transversely with respect to longitudinal axis A-A to encircle the bundle of books 45 (FIG. 1). The free ends of these straps are provided with hooks 21, adjusting linkages 23, and metal loops 25, as previously described for end straps 5 and 7, so that the books 45 or other packages may be held securely by the straps.

Also, by virtue of the 45 angularities just described, the straps 35, 37 and 41, 43 may be retracted and turned over when not in use, as shown in FIG. 4, whereupon they will lie parallel to each other, to the axis A-A of base 1, and to the end straps 5 and 7. In this condition, the whole assembly may be folded lengthwise and continuously about the base 1, the first step being shown in FIG. 4, until all the straps have been smoothly accommodated into a neat and compact bundle, with no twists or loops in any part.

Although the angular and other connections for all the several straps are shown as being perforations in base 1, it is apparent that other modes of connecting the straps could be used, for example, by wire loops or stirrups, without departing from the essential features of my invention.

From the foregoing, it will become apparent that the preferred embodiment chosen for illustration is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and while I have illustrated and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details, except as may be necessitated by the appended claim.

I claim:

A collapsible carrier for books or the like, comprising:

an elongated plate,

a flexible handle secured to the top of said plate and co-planar with respect to its longitudinal axis,

a first pair of flexible, hook-encircling straps each secured to one end of said plate and projecting axially therefrom,

a hinge pin carried by said plate to one side of the longitudinal axis of said plate and at an angle of 45 degrees thereto, a second hinge pin carried by said plate to the other side of said axis and at an angle of 45 degrees thereto,

an additional pair of flexible straps, each secured at one end to one of said hinge pins whereby each of said straps may be selectively positioned either to extend transversely with respect to said plate or longitudinally thereof.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,623 Broad Apr. 11, 1871 823,258 Burton et al June 12, 1906 1,120,020 Bullock Dec. 8, 1914 1,580,256 Keeler Apr. 13, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS 236,052 Germany June 26, 1911 584,880 France Nov. 29, 1924 

